CLEMSON, S.C. – After winning game No. 1 of the series against No. 14 Virginia Tech, the Hokies battled back to claim the series after winning both games of Friday’s doubleheader against Clemson in McWhorter Stadium. The Hokies took game No. 1 of the day, 9-0, and won the second game, 4-1. With Saturday’s results, Virginia Tech improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, while Clemson fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in league games.
Virginia Tech’s Ivy Rosenberry (2-0) and Keely Rochard (3-1) earned victories in the circle, while Clemson’s Valerie Cagle (2-1) and Millie Thompson (0-1) suffered their first losses of the season in Friday’s doubleheader, respectively.
Game 1: Box Score || Box Score (PDF)
Game 2: Box Score || Box Score (PDF)
In game No. 1, Virginia Tech struck first with two doubles and a RBI groundout fielder’s choice to take an early 2-0 lead. Just like the Tigers in Thursday’s game, the Hokies exploded offensively in the bottom of the third. The bottom half of the inning began with an RBI single to center field. Soon after, a pair of three-run homers led to six additional Virginia Tech runs scored. Clemson right-handed pitchers Logan Caymol and Emma Whitfield made her season debut in the circle. Caymol relieved Cagle in the bottom of the third, and Whitfield entered the circle to start the fourth.
Senior Ansley Gilstrap claimed her first career hit inside McWhorter Stadium in game No. 1. Gilstrap smoked a double to left-center field in the top of the third.
In Saturday’s second game to decide the series, Virginia Tech took another early lead, 2-0, in the top of the first with a pair of RBI doubles. The Hokies extended the lead to 3-0 with a solo homer later in the third. The Tigers earned their only run of the day thanks to Marissa Guimbarda, who ripped a RBI double down the third-base line in the bottom of the sixth to score Jaden Cheek, who pinch ran for Grace Mattimore earlier in the inning.
Freshman righty Regan Spencer entered the circle for Clemson in the top of the fourth. Spencer allowed only three hits and one run against 15 opposing batters in 4.0 innings pitched.
Up next, the Tigers are set to travel for their first-ever ACC road series at Georgia Tech (5-3, 0-3 ACC) on Saturday and Sunday in Atlanta. First pitch for Saturday’s series opener is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ACCNX.For complete coverage of the Tiger softball team, follow @ClemsonSoftball on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.
